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1d. How to install a ML110 High Availability Cluster

This article is specifically about Highly Available (HA) clusters. If you are installing a single ML110 server, please click here.

The installation process can be performed without disrupting your existing infrastructure and is usually accomplished without the assistance of the Easy Connect Support team. That being said, every situation is unique; if you feel you will need assistance, it is recommended that you perform installation when Support is available (9x5).

Step 1: Unbox your server and check you have the necessary parts.

Unbox your two servers and check you have the necessary parts. In each box, you should have the following:

the server itself

the power cable to plug your server into your power source.

You would also have been sent a USB stick (flash drive) to update the software on the server. This would have been sent separately to the server and is needed for the installation. If you don't have the USB stick, you can easily create one yourself.

You will need to provide:

two Ethernet cables to connect the WAN ports of the servers to your Internet connection

two Ethernet cables to connect the iLO ports of the servers to your Internet connection

two Ethernet cables to connect the LAN port of the server to your computer for the initial installation (and then into your LAN switch afterwards).

two Ethernet cables to connect the servers together to form a cluster. (We recommend that these are 0.25 metre Ethernet cables.)

Step 2: Connect Power

Connect the power cables into the power socket on both of your servers, and into your power supply.

It is essential your servers are connected to a reliable power supply, and it is highly recommended that they are protected by an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).

Step 3: Plug in USB stick

Plug the USB stick into a USB 3 port on the server. The USB 3 ports are blue and labelled SS.

(This is the the USB stick which updates the software on the server, and would have been sent to you with the server or you created it yourself)

Step 4: Power on the server

Power on the server, by pressing the power button. The server will now boot from the USB stick, and the automated USB imaging process will now start. It takes approx. 40 minutes to complete.

(During the USB imaging process the hard disk activity light on the server will be flashing as the disks are being written to.)

Step 5: Wait for the server to power off

When the server has powered off the USB imaging process is complete. The power button LED will be red.

You can now remove the USB stick from the server.

Step 6: USB image the other server

Repeat steps 3 to 5 on the other server.

When you have performed the USB imaging process on BOTH servers, and when both servers have shut down and the power button LED is red - continue with step 7.

Step 7: Connect WAN ports

On both servers, connect the WAN port into your network device which provides the WAN connectivity (Internet connection/router/ISP modem/switch) using an Ethernet cable. You will specify the IP address for this when you use the Installation Console. (only one IP address is used for the WAN - which is shared between both servers)

Step 8: Connect iLO ports

Connect up the iLO ports depending on how you configured it in the Commissioning Console.

Air Gap (iLO IP same as WAN port): Leave the iLO port disconnected

Public IP: Connect the iLO port to your router/firewall providing the connectivity

Crossover: Connect the iLO port into the network port which is labelled 4 on the other server

Step 9: Connect Cluster interconnect

Connect the servers cluster interconnect ports together as shown in the below diagram with the blue and red lines. (we recommenced using a 0.25 metre ethernet cable for the cluster interconnects)

Step 10: LAN port

Leave the LAN ports disconnected as you will use the LAN port to connect a client device, typically a laptop, to the server in order to complete the installation using the Installation Console.

If you will have an existing firewall in front of your server, you must ensure that all traffic is allowed out from the WAN IP address of the server to the internet. You’ll also need to open a few ports to allow remote access to the iLO and WAN ports. For full details, view the article titled How to Install Your Server Behind a Firewall.